The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Ooh
I know when he's been on your mind
That distant look is in your eyes
I thought with time you'd realize
It's over, over
It's not the way I choose to live
And something somewhere's got to give
As sharing this relationship gets older, older
You know I'd fight for you
But how can I fight someone who isn't even there
I've had the rest of you now I want the best of you
I don't care if that's not fair
'Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
When you reach the bottom it's now or never
Is it all or are we just friends
Is this how it ends
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here with nothing at all
There are times it seems to me
I'm Sharing you with memories
I feel it in my heart
But I don't show it, show it
And then there's times you look at me
As though I'm all that you can see
Those times I don't believe it's right
I know it, know it
Don't make me promises
Baby, you never did know how to keep them well
I've had the rest of you
Now I want the best of you
It's time for show and tell
'Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
When you reach the bottom it's now or never
Is it all or are we just friends
Is this how it ends
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here with nothing
'Cause you and I
Could lose it all if you've got no more room
No room inside for me in your life
'Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
It's now or never
Is it all or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
When you reach the bottom it's now or never
Is it all or are we just friends
Is this how it ends
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here with nothing at all
Or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
When you reach the bottom it's now or never
Is it all or are we just friends
Is this how it ends
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here with nothing at all, oh
I know when he's been on your mind
That distant look is in your eyes
I thought with time you'd realize
It's over, over
It's not the way I choose to live
And something somewhere's got to give
As sharing this relationship gets older, older
You know I'd fight for you
But how can I fight someone who isn't even there
I've had the rest of you now I want the best of you
I don't care if that's not fair
'Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
When you reach the bottom it's now or never
Is it all or are we just friends
Is this how it ends
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here with nothing at all
There are times it seems to me
I'm Sharing you with memories
I feel it in my heart
But I don't show it, show it
And then there's times you look at me
As though I'm all that you can see
Those times I don't believe it's right
I know it, know it
Don't make me promises
Baby, you never did know how to keep them well
I've had the rest of you
Now I want the best of you
It's time for show and tell
'Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
When you reach the bottom it's now or never
Is it all or are we just friends
Is this how it ends
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here with nothing
'Cause you and I
Could lose it all if you've got no more room
No room inside for me in your life
'Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
It's now or never
Is it all or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
When you reach the bottom it's now or never
Is it all or are we just friends
Is this how it ends
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here with nothing at all
Or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
When you reach the bottom it's now or never
Is it all or are we just friends
Is this how it ends
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here with nothing at all, oh
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Well, like everyone else, this song has so much meaning to me. My girlfriend, her last boyfriend died tragically, and she's uncomfortable just being in a relationship. I really do like her and I want to be with her but she just is scared.
"And something's somewhere's got to give As sharing this relationship get's older, older" -I've been waiting, doing whatever I can and when she's ready, she'll tell me she's ready but it's taking so long. This relationship is going nowhere.
"You know i'd fight for you but how can I fight someone who isn't even there" -Her last boyfriend is already dead but she's still so attached to him. It's been over two years now. I know that him dying so suddenly meant that he'll always be with her 'cause the relationship never ended but I don't know..
"I've had the rest of you, now I want the best of you" "Cause I want it all or nothing at all" -Basically, she's not trying hard enough to make this work. She does try but I'm sure there's a part of her that's holding back. I just want her to give everything.
And so on. I love this song. I can totally relate.